Names In The News

Malaysian Super League side Johor Darul Takzim announced that it had released coach FANDI AHMAD. The move came 10 days after the football club announced that Spaniard CESAR FERRANDO JIMENEZ "would be taking charge" on Aug. 18 (STRAITS TIMES, 7/30). ... Board of Control for Cricket in India interim CEO JAGMOHAN DALMIYA "is set to be elected unopposed in a straightforward affair" at the Cricket Association of Bengal’s 82nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday. Dalmiya and his entourage "have no opposition as the office-bearers are set to be re-elected again to their respective posts" (PTI, 7/30). ... Sao Paulo has appointed the son of Brazil legend SÓCRATES as the club's new football manager. GUSTAVO VIEIRA DE OLIVEIRA, 35, will replace ADALBERTO BAPTISTA, "who resigned from the role last week" (XINHUA, 7/30). ... All Japan Judo Federation President HARUKI UEMURA "has announced his resignation after the sport suffered a series of scandals including abusive coaching, sexual harassment and misuse of funds." Uemura "will officially step down next month along with two other board members" (AFP, 7/30). ... Former Barcelona goalie ANTONI RAMALLETS died on Tuesday at the age of 89. Ramallets played for Barcelona from '47 through '62 and also played for the Spanish national team (SPORT, 7/30). ... Ecuadorean footballer CHRISTIAN BENITEZ, who died on Monday in Qatar, will be honored on Aug. 14 in Guayaquil, Ecuador before an int'l friendly between Ecuador and Spain (MARCA, 7/29). ... Newly hired Barcelona coach GERARDO"TATA"MARTINO will be the subject of a documentary called "Project Tata," which will focus on Argentine first division side Newell's Old Boys' most recent season and Martino, who left Newell's for Barcelona after the season (OLE, 7/30). ... The Delhi Police on Tuesday filed its "voluminous charge sheet" in the IPL spot-fixing case naming underworld don DAWOOD IBRAHIM, his close aide CHHOTA SHAKEEL and some cricketers, including Rajasthan Royals S. SREESANTH, as accused, "while Rajasthan Royals' captain RAHUL DRAVID Dravid has been made a witness." Besides them, the other accused include suspended Rajasthan Royals players ANKEET CHAVAN and AJIT CHANDILA, bookies ASHWANI AGARWAL, RAMESH VYAS, DEEPAK KUMAR, SUNIL BHATIA and FIROZ FARID ANSARI and ex-Ranji player BABURAO YADAV (PTI, 7/30). ... Thai Badminton player BODIN ISSARA, banned for two years for "physically assaulting former doubles partner MANEEPONG JONJIT, has asked authorities to cut his opponent's suspension for the on-court brawl so that he can play in the World Championships." Maneepong was hit for a three-month ban for provocation (REUTERS, 7/30). ... The Malaysia Basketball Association's Facebook page "was flooded with tributes" to national cager JACKY NG KIAT KEE, who died of a heart attack in China on Sunday. The 25-year-old was "on the bench when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital." He was pronounced dead two hours later (THE STAR, 7/30). ... Former U.S. Olympic hurdler EDWIN MOSES "has entered the race to become the next president of the World Anti-Doping Agency." The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in the 400m hurdles "submitted his candidacy last week to become the third -- and likely final -- contender for the job, the IOC said Tuesday." Also in the running are IOC VP CRAIG REEDIE and former IOC Medical Dir PATRICK SCHAMASCH (AP, 7/30). ... Boxer AMIR KHAN and business manager ASIF VALI "have parted ways after mutual agreement." Vali leaves Premier Consultancy UK, the sports management company founded in '05, after eight years (BOX REC NEWS, 7/30).

JOB SECURITY: Mexican national football team coach JOSE MANUEL DE LA TORRE's job "is secure -- at least for now." De la Torre "received a vote of confidence after an emergency meeting Monday" of the Mexico Football Federation club presidents. Mexico Football Federation President JUSTINO COMPEAN said, "Jose Manuel is the best option for the national team. There is time to remedy the poor results in the qualifier and reach the World Cup" (ESPN, 7/30).

ALONSO REBUKED: Ferrari F1 team President LUCA DI MONTEZEMOLO "has publicly rebuked" driver FERNANDO ALONSO "for his negative comments in the wake of Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix." After finishing fifth at the Hungaroring, in one interview Alonso was "asked what he would like as a birthday present," to which he replied: "Another car!" Ferrari said, "There is a need to close ranks, without giving in to rash outbursts that, while understandable in the immediate aftermath of a bad result, are no use to anyone" (PA, 7/30).